Clothing clasp

ABSTRACT

A clothing clasp for securing an article of clothing. The clasp includes an elongated rigid pin member that is attached to a biasing member at a coupling point. The biasing member may be wavy in nature with various curves such that one or more sections of the biasing member are biased to contact the pin member. With such a clasp, one may slide the clasp over two sections of an article of clothing, e.g., two sections of a blouse that cross in front, in order to secure the first section to the second section without interfering with (i.e., poking though) either section.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 61/116,579 filed on Nov. 20, 2008 and entitled “CLOTHING CLASP” and is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Clothing may be designed according to any number of patterns or styles. Often, blouses, dresses, and tops may be made of a very thin or thick material for various reasons. Further, some fashions include clothing that is intended to be wrapped around a person's upper body or waistline such that two different sections of the clothing overlap each other at a desired location. Typically, a button or clasp may be used to hold the two sections of the article of clothing together at this junction point. In the simplest of examples, a button-up shirt typically has two portions that may be fastened together while worn; a first portion on one side with button holes and a second opposite portion with buttons. As the shirt is put on, one may button up the two sections, such that the shirt portions stay coupled together in the front down the middle.

In some fashions, however, buttons or other fasteners are not desired from the perspective of the manufacturer's design. In lieu of buttons or other fasteners attaching the material together is accomplished in some other manner. As but one example, a woman's blouse may wrap around her upper body such that one side of the blouse front crosses over the other side front. The shirt portions overlap each other with the intent to lay closed where the two sections of fabric overlap. Sometimes, instead of buttons or clasps down the middle or where the portions may overlap, other fastening means may be present at other locations such as off to the side or in the back. Further, other fashions feature an attachment that is more permanent, such as a stitching away from the center so as to give the appearance of a wrap of two-piece blouse.

In such fashions, the two portions of the article of clothing that cross in the middle in front may not stay in close proximity to each other without some kind of additional fastening means. That is, as a person wears the article, depending on how it may hang, different portions of the shirt may pull away from different areas. If one side of the article moves far enough away from the other side such that one's undergarment or an inappropriate portion of one's body is exposed the wearer may find the shirt to be ill-fitting without some sort of additional fastening at the overlapping portions. That may be particularly problematic for women whose fashions typically attempt to reveal a tasteful level of one's body. Typically, women have used such means as a safety pin to secure the two portions, yet this method limits the secured or fastened points to a small area that pierces both portions of the material that, once in place, can not be adjusted without repeating the pinning process, sometimes numerous times. This can cause gaping or an unnatural drape of the fabric. It can also cause damage to the fabric as the second portions is also punctured, the fabric can slide into the looped part of the safety pin or the hooking enclosure part of the pin and tear the fabric. When the fabric slides in the safety pin, new gaping problems can occur.

What is needed is a means for securing specific portions of clothing in a discreet manner, protecting fabric integrity over conventional means, with maneuverability, and without interfering with the fashion of the clothing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the subject matter disclosed herein will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a clothing clasp according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 shows a clothing clasp engaged with an article of clothing according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 shows a clothing clasp according to an alternative embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the subject matter disclosed herein. The general principles described herein may be applied to embodiments and applications other than those detailed above without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter disclosed herein. This disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed or suggested herein.

FIG. 1 shows a clothing clasp 100 according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. The clasp 100 may typically be used to secure two pieces of clothing material to each other in manner that is discreet, protective of the fabric, and easily maneuvered. In this manner, two sections of clothing material may be secured between the pin member 110 and the biasing member 150. When engaged, the biasing member 150 holds the material to the pin member 110 in such a manner so as to prevent the material from unintentionally moving. The nature of this securing is discussed in greater detail below.

As shown, the clasp 100 may include a long, narrow pin member 110 and a wavy biasing member 150. The biasing member 150 is biased to provide a constant force directed toward the pin member 110. That is, the biasing member is typically integral with the pin member 110 such that a biasing section 120 exerts a force that holds the biasing member 150 to the pin member 110 at various locations such as locations 121 and 131 (discussed further below). The biasing member 150 is able to be lifted away from the pin member 110 as the biasing member 150 is flexible at the biasing section 120. However, the nature of the biasing section 120 exerts a force to keep the biasing member 150 in an “at rest” position as shown in FIG. 1.

When in use, two unattached pieces of material that may be different sections of the same article of clothing may be engaged by the clasp. The two sections of material (not shown) may be slid into an engaging section 160 of the clasp 100. When fully engaged, the two sections of material are held securely between the pin member 110 and the biasing member 150 at pressure point locations such as 121 and 131. In this manner, the two sections of material are preventing from maneuvering away from each other, but can still be manipulated once the pin member 110 is engaged.

The pin member 110 may be intended to be engaged with the clothing in a discreet location such as within a seam at the edge of the clothing's material. As such, one may push the point 111 of the pin member 110 through the material at one location (e.g., an entry point, a first penetration point) on the inside of the edge seam. Then, one may continue to push the point 111 of the pin member 110 through at a second location (e.g., an exit point, a second penetration point) further down from the first location. Much in the way a safety pin would engage material, the pin member 110 protrudes into a seam and then back out again. Then, a person may engage the point 111 of the pin member 110 of the pin with a pin cap 115. The pin cap 115 protects a person from being poked by the point 111 when wearing the clasp 100.

By engaging the pin member 110 within a seam, a majority of pin member is enclosed within the seam such that only the two ends (i.e., the point 111 covered by the pin cap 115 and the biasing section 120) of the pin member 110 are not engaged within the seam. Of course, the entire biasing member 150 is exposed behind seam on the inside of the article of clothing so as to engage the other material section (not shown). This is advantageous in that less of or none of the clasp 100 is visible when being worn. Further, by engaging the clothing at the seam on the interior side, any damage to the material by poking the pin member 110 through it is limited to the underside seam. Thus, no visible portion of the clothing needs to be compromised to use the clasp 100.

Further yet, the wearer can adjust the two sections of the article of clothing without removing the clasp 100 and re-pinning over and over to get a smooth, flat-laying closure. Time and frustration are reduced and provide additional advantages over a safety pin.

The pin member 110 may typically be cylindrical in shape but may be any other shape suitable for penetrating clothing material. The pin member 110 may be made from any suitable material such as a highly rigid metal member. Such material may include steel and other polyextruded alloys thereof. Other materials may include poly-extruded plastic, and variations thereof. The biasing member 150 may be made of the same material and may be integral with the pin member 110.

Further, the two members of the clasp 100 may be magnetized such that the pin member 110 is attracted to the biasing member 150. Such magnetization assists with holding the clasp 100 and the secured material in place.

The biasing member 150 provides engagement positions at one or more locations along the pin member 110. For example, the biasing member 150 may be shaped to provide an engagement point at a first location 121 and at a second location 131 or at other similar locations moving down biasing member 150. These locations may be engaged because the biasing member 150 includes one or more biased sections. Thus, a first biased section 120 biases a portion of the biasing member 150 to engage at the first location 121. Likewise, a second biased section 130 biases a portion of the biasing member 150 to engage at the second location 121 etc. More than two locations may be engaged in an embodiment with more than two biased sections.

The biasing member 150 culminates in a rounded tip 140 that lays relatively flat to the pin member 110 to avoid poking the skin or undergarment of the wearer and offering one final location. The biasing member 150 may comprise a material other than metal and may be different from the material used for the pin member 110.

FIG. 2 shows a clothing clasp engaged with an article of clothing according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. As shown in FIG. 2, the clasp 100 is engaged with a blouse 200 that includes a first side 210 and a second side 211 that may not definitively engage with each other. As such, the clasp 100 is engaged with both the first side 210 and the second side 211 to provide a means for securing the two sides together such that the blouse, top, or bodice does not fly open, gap, or move about freely. The clasp 100 may be used on any dress, blouse, shirt, jacket, or top wherein two separate sections of the article of clothing need to be secured in a discreet manner. Further, the clasp 100 may be used similarly with other articles of clothing such as at the slit of a skirt or dress. Further yet, the clasp 100 may be used for other purposes, such as securing a flower to the lapel of a jacket.

FIG. 3 shows a clothing clasp according to an alternative embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. As shown, the clasp 300 may include a long, narrow pin member 310 and a biasing member 350. The biasing member 350 is biased to provide a constant force directed toward the pin member 310. As the case with the embodiment of FIG. 1, the biasing member 350 is integral with the pin member 310 such that a biasing section 320 exerts a force that holds the biasing member 350 to the pin member 310 at one continuous location along the biasing member. Similarly, the biasing member 150 is able to be lifted away from the pin member 310 as the biasing member 350 is flexible at the biasing section 320. In this embodiment, only one biased section 350 may engage the pin member 310, but the amount of engagement area may be longer (possibly the entire length of the biasing member 350) as compared to the clasp 100 of FIG. 1.

While the subject matter discussed herein is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that various aspects described in less than all of the embodiments may, nevertheless, be present in any embodiment. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the claimed subject matter to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 

1. A clothing clasp, comprising: an elongated rigid pin member; and a biasing member coupled to the pin member at a coupling point and disposed to bias a portion of the first member into contact with the biasing member at a point other than the coupling point.
 2. The clothing clasp of claim 1, further comprising metal.
 3. The clothing clasp of claim 1, further comprising plastic.
 4. The clothing clasp of claim 1 wherein the biasing member biases the pin member to contact the biasing member at two different locations.
 5. The clothing clasp of claim 1, wherein the biasing member contacts the pin member at multiple points other than the coupling point.
 6. The clothing clasp of claim 1 wherein the pin and biasing member are magnetized and attracted to each other.
 7. The clothing clasp of claim 1 wherein the pin member further comprises a pointed end.
 8. The clothing clasp of claim 7, further comprising a cap suited to securely attach to the pointed end of the pin member.
 9. The clothing clasp of claim 1 wherein the pin member is longer than the biasing member.
 10. The clothing clasp of claim 1 wherein the biasing member further comprises a rounded end that is biased away from the pin member.
 11. The clothing clasp of claim 1 wherein the biasing member contacts the pin member for an extended length of the pin member.
 12. An article of clothing, comprising: a first section; a second section; and a clasp for securing the first and second sections together, the clasp comprising: an elongated rigid pin member; and a biasing member coupled to the pin member at a coupling point and disposed to bias a portion of the first member into contact with the biasing member at a point other than the coupling point.
 13. The article of clothing of claim 12, further comprising one of the group including: a dress, a blouse, a shirt, a jacket, a skirt, and article with a suited bodice.
 14. The article of clothing of claim 12 wherein the first section and second section comprises a thickness suited to be clasped by the clasp.
 15. The article of clothing of claim 12, further comprising one of the group including: silk, rayon, cotton, denim, polyester, leather, lace, synthetic fiber, cashmere, rubber, Gore-Tex, wool, fleece, and linen. 